Kwabenya Jailbreak Suspects’ Sentencing Deferred

An Accra Circuit Court has deferred the sentencing of two of the suspects who raided the Kwabenya Police station on January 21. The court adjourned the case after the judge announced he was to attend an equally important meeting.

The case was deferred earlier on Wednesday April 4 for the same reason. This however didn’t go down well with counsel for Nancy Dentaah, the only female amongst the accused persons.

Lawyer Bernard Wiredu believes this infringes on the liberty of his client.

Already, two persons who were among the seven escapees during the raid have been convicted by the Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Aboagye Tandoh on their own plea.

The two, Kofi Darko aka Kofi Duku, 25, trader and Emmanuel Kotey, 24, motor rider, were released from police custody after six armed men allegedly stormed the police station on January 21, 2018 at about 1:30 am and killed Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi.

They were charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime, to wit escape from lawful custody and escape from lawful custody contrary to the criminal and other offences Act 1960 (Act 29).They pleaded guilty to both charges paving the way for the sentencing.

A gang of suspected armed robbers attacked the Kwabenya District Police Headquarters, which accommodates the Kwabenya Police Station, killing the officer on duty, and freeing cell inmates.

Seven inmates escaped, but four of them were rearrested. Two of the escapees were jailed 30 months after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to escape from lawful custody, and escaping from lawful custody.

The rest of the accused persons, numbering nine, are still standing trial as they have pleaded not guilty to the charges of possession of firearms without authority, abetment to possessing firearms without lawful authority, conspiracy to commit crime, to wit; escape from lawful custody, and abetment to escape from lawful custody, all of which are contrary to section 23, 226(C) and 20(1) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act (Act 29).